'Mistaken identity' – Man accused of wounding men with machetes claims to have been miles away at time of attack
A man accused of attacking a group of men with machetes has claimed it is a case of mistaken identity.
Joshua Francis' defence hinged on having an alibi at the time of the attack on June 23, 2022 in Ashmore Park.
Francis, 23, claims to have been talking to a man outside his home miles away.
Francis, previously of Wolverhampton, moved to Dunstable, Bedfordshire before the attack.
Jake Winters and Dan Sheridan were attacked by two men with machetes which left Winters with "life changing" injuries to his hand.
Francis and Myckel Betty, 21, previously of Wednesfield before moving to Stoke-on-Trent, are charged with wounding Mr Winters on Southall Road, Ashmore Park.
Betty previously pleaded guilty to wounding and possessing a machete.
Francis denies two counts of wounding and possessing a machete.
Mr Winters gave evidence claiming Betty told Francis to "kill him" during the attack, however, under questioning said his attacker's face was covered but claimed "knew it was Francis".
Summing up Judge Neil Chawla told the jury an agreed fact in the case was that Francis "was of good character" as he has no previous convictions.
He said: "If you believe Mr Francis' alibi then you must find him not guilty."
The jury was sent out to decide their verdicts on Friday afternoon but will return on Wednesday to continue their deliberations.